the honours superyacht

THE HONOURS

Rewarding lives in superyachting.

Inspiring people, inspiring change.

There is so much good going on within the superyacht industry – from philanthropic ventures and intrepid exploration to unrivalled craftsmanship and sustainable innovations helping make the world a better place – but these stories are regularly overlooked.

That's why The Honours recognises the people behind the inspirational stories that make the superyachting world exceptional.

Honourees 2023

Jenny matthews.

Inspired by a conversation with a neighbour, Jenny Matthews set out to break the mould and become a superyacht captain, founding She of the Sea and Legasea on the way.

ZORAN SELAKOVIC

From passionate yacht skipper and business strategy consultant to Director at YachtAid Global, Zoran Selakovic has seen the suffering of coastal communities, and the help that the superyacht community is determined to deliver.

WENDY SCHMIDT

A latecomer to sailing, recipient of the inaugural Honours awards and yacht owner Wendy Schmidt nonetheless showed a natural talent for helming and an affinity with the sea, and as her passion grew, so did her determination to put her philanthropic weight behind ocean science and sustainability.

IT'S YOUR TURN

Nominations are now open!

Who is your nominee for The Honours 2024?

Experiential. Educational. Exceptional.

An exclusive, high-end, experiential evening celebrating the stories of three honourees took place in Monaco on the eve of the iconic Monaco Yacht Show.

Meet with an esteemed panel of judges and 

criteria employed in the judging process

The exquisite and finely crafted Bowsprit award represents the guiding spirits of the superyachting world. Like the inspirational people it honours, the award symbolises those at the leading edge, pointing the way forward and charting a new course, while the waves express the gathering momentum that follows our honourees. 

The Bowsprit

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Behind every superyacht lies a story. The Superyacht Life Foundation is on a mission to share these stories, offering a fresh take on the positive impacts, people, places and projects that surround the superyachting good life.  

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The Honours: A Celebration of Superyacht Industry Inspirations

By Frances Flannagan

On the eve of the Monaco Yacht Show 2023, the first edition of The Honours was held: an event with the goal of recognising and celebrating the inspirational figures of the superyacht industry. The event saw three deserving winners, all of whom have dedicated a wealth of knowledge and passion to the world of superyachts, and who deserve to be celebrated beyond the event.

The Honours, which is organised by the Monaco Yacht Show and The Superyacht Life Foundation, is an event which aims to shift the spotlight away from the superyachts and onto the extraordinary people in the industry. Whilst featuring some of the world’s most spectacular displays of luxury, the superyacht industry is also home to some of the world’s most inspiring people in regard to environmental dedications, career journeys and unwavering passions. 

The first edition of the event saw three Honourees selected to receive a Bowspirit award, a beautiful design crafted in glass and carbon by Preciosa, with an overall total of 364 nominees, in which 14 were shortlisted. The panel of judges, which is chaired by Tony Harris, Superyacht Industry Ambassador of Informa Markets, then convened for deliberation in Monaco to decide the three winners. 

An exceptional evening event was held on the eve of the 2023 Monaco Yacht Show to award and celebrate the three Honourees. A gala dinner took place at Hauser & Wirth’s stunning gallery in Monaco on Place du Casino, an event that treated a distinguished guest list to an exquisite three-course dinner and sensational entertainment, including ballet and opera performances. The gallery was a stunning backdrop to the celebrations, featuring a new exhibition by renowned contemporary artist Mark Bradford. 

The three Honourees represent the diverse range of exceptional work carried out within the industry. Jenny Matthews, Zoran Selakovic and Wendy Shmidt were the well-deserving winners, three true inspirations within the superyacht world.

Jenny Matthews

Born and raised in New Zealand, Jenny Matthews set her desires on becoming a superyacht captain, despite recognising the rarity of female deckhands. Working her way up the ranks and gaining an officer of the watch certificate, Matthews decided to acknowledge the diversity issues within the industry and founded ‘She of the Sea’: a social media platform in which women in the deck and engineering departments could share knowledge, build a community and inspire the next generation. She then went on to found ‘Legersea’, which focuses on mentoring the next generation of yacht crew. 

Speaking on diversity within the industry, Matthews commented: ‘I feel so honoured and blessed and driven to be part of that conversation, whether it’s about orientation, gender, race, ethnicity, or socio-economic background.’ Her passion for not only being part of a conversation about diversity but actively contributing to it highlights the important role that Matthews plays in the industry, inspiring everyone to create a worthy space for themselves within the superyacht world. 

Zoran Selakovic

Zoran Selakovic was born and raised in Croatia, starting out as a passionate yacht skipper and business strategy consultant. Touched by the effects of hurricanes Irma and Maria in the Caribbean, Selakovic approached Mark Drewelow, Founder of YachtAid Global (YAG). Following the impact of the hurricanes,  YAG received offers from over 100 superyachts to assist in relief efforts in just two weeks. Following this, Selakovic was made YAG’s Director, overseeing a plethora of projects from disaster relief to clean drinking water missions.

Selakovic believes that organisations such as YachtAid Global exist because of the community: ‘In so many ways, YachtAid Global is a collaboration, an altruism sustainability platform through which we connect and work together to carry out these initiatives in a way that is truly sustainable – and we’ve had over 300 superyachts and thousands of owners and crew engaged over the course of the years.’ His acknowledgment of the industry as a whole resonates with the message at the crux of The Honours: to recognise all who contribute to the superyacht industry. 

Wendy Schmidt

Wendy Schmidt is a philanthropist and sailing superyacht owner, with a natural talent for helming and an affinity with the sea. She is passionate about not only restoring our ocean environments, but understanding and conserving them. Schmidt’s involvement in the Schmidt Family Foundation, Schmidt Ocean Institute and other non-profit organisations highlight the ways in which she has helped further ocean science and research. She founded 11th Hour Racing, which highlights issues and promotes solutions for sustainability in the yachting and yacht racing sectors and is also the first woman and first American to win the Barcolana: the world’s largest yacht race. 

Schmidt commented, ‘Human activity has had this extraordinary impact on ocean health… Let’s stop hurting it. Let’s let it be what it was designed to be, because it is our life support. It is a major protein source for almost half of the human race. It’s our pharmacy full of compounds – we have barely scratched the surface of them, but we do know many of them help cure diseases. And for sailors, it’s our playground. It’s where we have our recreation, and we have a responsibility for its health.’ Schmidt has an admirable drive for sustainability, a topic which has never been more important within the superyacht industry. 

These three extraordinary winners encompass everything that The Honours stands for: recognising those who have had remarkable impacts on the industry and who inspire others to do the same. From world-class performance capabilities to unwavering sustainable and environmental commitments, Jenny Matthews, Zoran Selakovic and Wendy Schmidt are Honourees that are worth celebrating beyond the event, as we continue to acknowledge the importance of The Honours and celebrate its empowering objectives and spectacular achievements.

"I feel so honoured and blessed and driven to be part of that conversation, whether it’s about orientation, gender, race, ethnicity, or socio-economic background.’" Jenny Matthews, Winner, The Honours 2023

"I feel so honoured and blessed and driven to be part of that conversation, whether it’s about orientation, gender, race, ethnicity, or socio-economic background.’"

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By SuperyachtNews 17 Jan 2024

The Honours 2024 nominations now open

After its inaugural edition last year, the honours 2024 has opened for nominations….

After a successful inaugural edition in 2023 – in which superyacht First Officer and DEI proponent Jenny Matthews, yacht owner and philanthropist Wendy Schmidt, and YachtAid Global director Zoran Selakovic were each honoured with a coveted Bowsprit award – The Honours 2024 has opened for nominations.

Organised by The Superyacht Life Foundation and the Monaco Yacht Show , The Honours celebrates the people inspiring change within and through superyachting. The 2023 laureates epitomise the positive impacts that owners, crew and industry can have with industry initiatives, and philanthropic and humanitarian projects in which superyachting plays a central role.

Nominations are invited for potential 2024 honourees, with the process open to anyone who can put forward a name or names of someone they feel deserves recognition for the work they have done or the change they have instigated. Nominees can be anyone involved with superyachts or the superyacht industry but, above all, they should show a project, work or personal endeavour that demonstrates altruistic or progressive behaviour beyond personal gain or career development, such as advancing diversity and inclusion, sustainability and innovation, science and exploration, conservation, and philanthropy and support for local communities.

The list of nominees will be considered by an expert panel who will consider aspects such as nominees’ impact and achievements, their leadership and influence, their service and commitment, the innovation and creativity of their endeavours, and their integrity and character.

“The inspiring stories of our 2023 laureates and the extraordinary impacts they have had through their work and their initiatives are a perfect reflection of what this industry is capable of and the heart that beats within it,” says Dilan Sarac, executive director of The Superyacht Life Foundation.

Gaëlle Tallarida, managing director at the Monaco Yacht Show, adds: “The Honours reflect the efforts of our industry to the rest of the world, showing both how progressive our industry can be and also how much desire to do good there is in the superyachting good life. We look forward to seeing another deep and diverse list of nominations, and can’t wait to host the 2024 laureates at the exclusive gala celebration on the eve of the 2024 Monaco Yacht Show.”

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The Honours: rewarding lives in superyachting

© Image copyright: Lürssen

Posted on - 15 February 2023

Article by The Superyacht Life Foundation Written by Charlotte Thomas

A superyacht may be near the pinnacle of experiences, but there is more to superyachting than just luxury and glamour. From philanthropy to humanitarian endeavour, people remain central, as the inaugural Honours seeks to highlight.

“From technology to science to music to art,” said the late, great Paul Allen, “I’m inspired by those who’ve blurred the boundaries, who’ve looked at the possibilities and said, ‘What if?’” There’s no question that the Microsoft co-founder fell under his own definition of inspirational figures, and not just for his work in building the software titan. Allen was a confirmed and enthusiastic superyacht nut – he owned three at one point – but to him they were more than just symbols of status or a means to indulge. He looked at the possibilities, asked what if, and used his iconic yacht Octopus both for scientific research and for search-and-rescue missions.

Allen is typical of the ‘other side’ of superyachting, where intrepid owners, crews and industry professionals seek to push boundaries, forge new technologies, and make real difference to people in the real world. There are the owners like Bill Joy, who invested heavily in developing fuel cell technology in the early 2000s when he was building his sailing yacht Ethereal, arguably the first of the new breed of hybrid yachts.

And there are the crews who step up and step in to help with local community projects and with disaster relief – for example Captain Mark Drewelow, founder of YachtAid Global (YAG), says that to date more than 200 yachts and their owners, guests and crews have been involved in YAG’s various humanitarian efforts.

Superyachting itself has its origins in the mid- to late 19th century, when the magnates and industrialists of the day began to enjoy the pleasures that large sailing and racing yachts could bring.

At the turn of the 20th century, however, the development of the diesel engine brought a new type of vessel to the fore – the motor yacht was born. Their classic lines, canoe sterns and bowsprits – typical of the time – heralded a new era of the ‘gentleman’s yacht’. The early, 1908-built 34-metre Jemima F was typical of the type, and she would be joined in the coming four decades by everything from the 136 metre Savarona to yachts for Onassis, JP Morgan, and many, many more.

By the 1950s and 1960s, historic shipyards were turning their hands to creating steel luxury yachts in the 18-30 metre range, with models helping to spark a surge of interest in the ‘moto panfilo’ lifestyle, which opened the doors for more people to access superyachting.

In the 1970s and 1980s, a new breed of owner combined with a new breed of designer – typified by the late, legendary Jon Bannenberg, whose avant garde yachts initiated the transformation of superyachts into what we know them today.

The superyacht industry gathered pace in the 1990s and hasn’t looked back since – it now employs an estimated 250,000 people directly or indirectly all over the world. That’s not all that has changed. With superyacht owners has come an interest in pushing the boundaries of technology, both because many modern superyacht owners themselves hail from technology-based industries and also because owners like to be at the cutting edge of tech and have the resources to invest in its development.

On top of that, there is a growing awareness among superyacht owners and charterers, as well as with the new generations of crew and of industry people, that the coasts, seas and oceans that are central to the superyacht lifestyle are in danger by the impact of a global commercial maritime industry, from bulk carriers to oil tankers to container ships.

It has led to a profound change in mindset, not only in developing more sustainable build methods and operational technologies – which can have far-reaching effects and implementations far beyond superyachting – but also in engagement with ocean conservation and community outreach, from monitoring and protecting marine mammals to helping clear beaches of plastic jetsam.

The history and evolution of the superyacht industry as a whole is a fascinating story, but history is only as relevant as the people who make it. It is why The Superyacht Life Foundation and the Monaco Yacht Show have teamed up to introduce The Honours, sponsored by BWA Yachting, Feadship, Preciosa and RINA, whose sole purpose is to recognise the inspirational people of superyachting and to celebrate the extraordinary things they have done.

Each year, three exceptional people – drawn from a list of potential honourees nominated by their peers across the industry – will receive a Bowsprit award, designed to represent their roles at the leading edge of superyachting. The Honours will be presented during an exclusive, experiential evening on the eve of the Monaco Yacht Show, where the stories of the Honourees will be explored through mini-documentaries, interactive chats, and so much more between the courses of a fine-dining dinner at a unique location.

If you know of someone who you think deserving of a Bowsprit award – an owner, and industry professional or a crew member who has gone above and beyond or who has inspired – to borrow from Allen – by blurring the boundaries, the Honours team would love to hear from you.

Nominations for this year’s Bowsprits are open from now until 18 April 2022. CTo make nomination, click here

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The Superyacht Life Foundation announces The Honours awards

• October 11, 2022

The Superyacht Life Foundation and Monaco Yacht Show have created The Honours, an annual event starting in September 2023 that recognises ‘the people, not the yachts’.

The Honours was announced at Yacht Club de Monaco

The Superyacht Life Foundation and the Monaco Yacht Show have invited nominations for the first edition of The Honours, which aims to celebrate the people of the superyacht industry rather than the yachts. The inaugural Honours evening be held in Monaco on September 26, 2023, on the eve of the Monaco Yacht Show, with three honourees receiving a Bowsprit, an avant-garde design in carbon and crystal glass crafted by Preciosa.

Dilan Sarac, Marketing Manager of The Superyacht Life Foundation, said: “Behind the glitz, the glamour and the attention-grabbing headlines, superyachting has a deep and generous soul that is reflected both in the philanthropic endeavours of its owners and in the ideals of its professionals. The Honours is a chance for us to recognise and celebrate the endeavours of the extraordinary people this exceptional sector encapsulates.”

The Honours invites is inviting nominations

Gaëlle Tallarida, Managing Director of Monaco Yacht Show, said: “We believe The Honours will be a new milestone in superyachting’s history as this will be the very first award ceremony that distinguishes people behind the scenes of yachting.”

Sponsored by Feadship, BWA Yachting, RINA and Preciosa, The Honours seeks to highlight and recognise people within superyachting, presenting positive stories and actions to a wider audience.

Examples include owners, crew and industry people leading humanitarian and disaster relief efforts, citizen scientists performing groundbreaking research aboard a superyacht, business leaders preserving artisan skills, and pioneering designers and engineers developing sustainable innovations. It could also be a deckhand who goes above and beyond, or a submarine pilot who has helped guests achieve their dreams and fight their fears.

Three honourees will each receive a Bowsprit

Farouk Nefzi, Chief Marketing Officer at Feadship, said: “Our industry is a people’s industry, and there are so many stories to be told about the amazing achievements of engineering, design, philanthropic ventures and sustainable innovations. They all make our industry and the world a little better. We have chosen to support The Honours because of the inspiring people, captivating stories, and great content.”

Nominations can be made by visiting the Nominate page on https://www.thehonours.org/ . Nominees will be considered by an independent judging panel comprising leaders from varied sectors of the superyacht industry, who will select three laureates each year to receive a Bowsprit.

www.thehonours.org

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The Superyacht Life Foundation And Monaco Yacht Show

“Behind every superyacht, lies a story”.  

The Superyacht Life Foundation has flourished in their expedition to straighten up the exposé on generation superyacht; a high-seas industry for the polished, smart-set community with a sustainable soul that has leisurely paddled into the high billion dollar tally, yet perpetually finds itself drowning in a sea of tainted headlines and a haughty reputation.

Resilient in their quest since 2017, this not-for-profit institute continues to hold the torch for the spheres poised #humansofyachting, not neglecting the habitats and countless blueprints radiating the spotlight around the superyachting good life, coupled with a compassionate soul.  

In a formidable debonair alliance, The Superyacht Life Foundation opted to join forces to present the inaugural Honours event, held on the evening of Tuesday 26 September in Monaco teaming up with none other than the esteemed, internationally heralded superyacht exhibit of The Monaco Yacht Show (MYS) .

Illustrating the immersive epitome of seven seas grandiosity and polished panache since since 1991, The Monaco Yacht Show relishes in welcoming its lucullan visitants while basking in the sacred endorsement and support of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco , as it continues to play host to a graceful assemblage of ultra-luxe superyachts and megayachts inside the aquatic resplendence of the Port Hercules, cementing its prestigious stature as the world’s number one yachting destination.

The Honours Experiential Evening 

The Honours event has been envisaged as a golden window of opportunity for the open ocean racer industry to for once, illuminate the positives of the chic everyday superyachting life and applaud those phenomenal individuals, who strive behind the camera choosing to make a invaluable difference and showcase just how nurturing and humble this alleged superficial superyacht realm can be.

Housed within Hauser & Wirth’s majestic gallery in Monaco on Place du Casino, the gala evening happenings had the pleasure of witnessing the presence of an esteemed audience of superyacht owners and select honoured luminary, all of whom had indulged in a lavish experiential dining affair elevated with captivating ballet and opera theatrics, and a tantalising sea-inspired, locally sourced menu highlighting the culinary flair of Monaco.

Upon commenting the dinner, guests were when treated to a brief yet compelling documentary film centred around the honourees, before the final laureates hand-picked from over a colossal 360 nominations were called onto the main stage to have bestowed upon them, their coveted Bowsprit award. 

It was the host environmental and ocean conservation advocate Mariasole Bianco, whom had taken the initiative to invite laureates to discuss and share their intriguing backgrounds, which highlighted their passion for the superyacht industry along with their hard graft endeavours to mark a difference to humanity through their philanthropic, charitable, environmental and community-based initiatives.

Celebrating The First Three Bowsprit Laureates

Wendy schmidt.

Wendy Schmidt; A passionate philanthropist and sailing superyacht owner ardent in her mission to raise awareness on the understanding, conservation, and restoration of our oceanic environments which in turn, prove pivotal for supporting life on Earth.

Through the Schmidt Family Foundation, the Schmidt Ocean Institute and other non-profit organisations, Wendy Schmidt has helped further ocean science and research, including by use of research vessels Falkor and Falkor (too) which are made available to scientists all over the world – more than 1,000 have been hosted on board since 2012.

Schmidt also founded 11th Hour Racing to highlight issues and solutions for sustainability in the yachting and yacht racing sectors. An accomplished helmswomen herself – she recently became the first woman and the first American to win the Barcolana 54, the world’s largest sailing yacht race – she is helping shape the next generation of yachts, drive innovation in materials and lifecycle assessment tools, and educate the general public to understand the importance of our ocean environments.

Jenny Matthews

Jenny Matthews is a professional yacht crew who at age the tender age of 18, decided that she was going to sideline the university life and become a superyacht captain. Facing the challenges of an industry where where an on deck female presence was scarce, Jenny had nonetheless persisted and hustled on her path to gain an Officer of the Watch certificate, albeit constantly plagued with comments that very few women had ever attained those credentials.

Those remarks were the driving force in leading her to reach out on social media to form She of the Sea – a fresh novel community for the working women on decks and engineering divisions that would serve not only as a networking, but also a firing table to motivational platform the next generation of talented candidates.

This initiative was then followed by the launch of Legasea, which settled on the conversation away from gender based projects and instead, drew its focus on the mentoring and genesis of the next yacht crew genesis of yacht crew dynasty, promising their support and knowledge for when the time comes for them to finally transport to the shoreside world.

Zoran Selakovic 

Zoran Selakovic was born and raised in what is now, the enchanting Adriatic jewel of Croatia where he fell in love with the sea starting from his youthful era, leading him to concur his skippering qualifications and cruise extensively across the shores. 

It was his distressing, first-hand experience of witnessing friends in the Caribbean lose their livelihoods at the mercy of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, that proved the prime mover for him to find out how he could help – which in turn led to his encounter with the founder of YachtAid Global, Mark Drewelow.

Zoran stepped in to help coordinate aid through YachtAid Global, which received offers from more than 100 superyachts to assist in relief efforts within two weeks. Since then as YachtAid Global’s Director, he has been involved in projects as diverse as disaster relief, from building the first public library in the Galapagos and helping provide clean drinking water in Mexico, to coordinating Operation Swimway which aims to add the migratory routes of pelagics to ocean conservation areas; all with the help of over 300 yachts ,  including thousands of yacht crew and owners.

“The evening was a wonderful expression of the good that exists in the superyachting good life, highlighting that there is so much more to this industry, its owners and crew than meets the eye,” says Dilan Saraç, Executive Director of Superyacht Life Foundation. “Our three inaugural Honourees are all well deserving of the award, and they have set the high bar for future nominations, which we have no doubt the industry will meet because of the breadth of talent and heart that lies within all facets of the superyachting industry and lifestyle.”

Following the inaugural Honours event, The Superyacht Life Foundation and Monaco Yacht Show are proud to announce that nominations for the 2024 edition of the Honours will open on the 1st of December 2023 – once again honouring the work of three select individuals at an exclusive experiential gala on the eve of the 2024 Monaco Yacht Show.

Anuja Gaur is a freelance luxury restaurant and travel writer based in Hertfordshire, UK. She is also an associate at an award-winning hedge fund in Mayfair. Her passion for fine food, illustrious hotels and an all-round love for the finer things in life has sent her to the most prestigious establishments, creating high-quality writing content that is honest, detailed and enjoyable, which invites readers on her immersive luxe filled writers journey.

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The unspoken rules about how to behave on a superyacht

• The superyachting world is very small, with only 5,800 yachts longer than 30 meters at sea.
• That insularity has bred a specific etiquette, which is often hard for outsiders to know about.
• These are the de facto rules of the most expensive billionaire toys, superyachts .

For the owners of superyachts , privacy is often the most valuable thing money can buy. It's one reason centimillionaires and billionaires pay eight or nine figures for a palace at sea, far from the prying eyes of land dwellers.

Even the most gossipy crew members should stay tight-lipped about the name of a former owner or charter guest, and many brokers shy away from answering benign questions.

That means that, aside from basic safety guidelines, most of the rules of superyachting are unwritten. The very few who need to know them — there are only about 5,800 yachts longer than 30 meters at sea, according to SuperYacht Times — already know them.

But if you do happen to be a lucky guest at a party on a billionaire's $500 million ship or find yourself included in a $1 million-a-week vacation, there are a few things you need to know.

After four days of touring superyachts that sell for as much as $75 million and chatting with the people who buy, sell, and work on them at the Palm Beach International Boat Show , Business Insider gleaned a few key edicts. Given the discreet nature of the industry, almost all the people we spoke with requested anonymity to protect their working relationships, but here's what they had to say.

Take off your shoes

While it's a basic rule for anyone in boating, it may come as a surprise to an outsider that no matter how rich you are or how expensive your heels are, in the vast majority of cases, you can't wear shoes on board.

It's partly for safety — you don't want anyone slipping on a wet deck — but partly to keep the yacht clean. So expect to see barefoot billionaires, and if you forgot to get a pedicure, bring a set of special boat shoes.

Don't make any assumptions about money — but know the signs

In the superyacht world, it's safe to assume almost everyone you meet is very, very rich, and many brokers and builders say you can't judge a book by its cover when it comes to prospective clients.

"It has nothing to do with how they're dressed," one broker told BI. "It's the biggest mistake you can make because a complete slobby-looking guy or couple could be a multibillionaire."

There are, however, a few clues. Watches are one; new footwear is another.

"Rich people always have new shoes," a superyacht expert said. But because of the shoe rule mentioned above, this tip probably applies only when they're on land.

Book your massage early

Wellness areas, including spa rooms with a massage bed or two and a professional-grade facial machine, are becoming must-haves on superyachts . Most have a customized spa menu and a crew member who doubles as a trained masseuse or beautician — and they're usually in high demand.

One captain said he'd implemented a booking system to ensure people weren't fighting for the same spots. A broker said sometimes masseuses would be so busy they wouldn't leave the small spa cabin for hours on end.

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So if you want to make the most of your relaxing time on board, reserve your pampering slot as soon as you get your welcome cocktail.

Pirates are more real than you'd think, and many superyachts have hidden safe rooms

While you might dress up as a fake pirate for an onboard theme party, there are very real ones — and other dangers — on the high seas.

In certain areas, including parts of the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, pirates are a cause of concern . In the Red Sea, owners are concerned about the Houthis .

Superyachts can come equipped with sonic weaponry, lockdown systems, and anti-drone protection. Builders are even designing safe rooms — which are apparently just as plush as the rest of the ship.

The longer the boat, the closer to $1 billion

While you can't judge a buyer based on appearances, you can judge them on the length of their boat.

One rule of thumb: If someone has a brand-new 50-meter vessel, chances are they have $1 billion to their name. If it's over 100 meters, expect the owner to have at least $2 billion. And for a boat bigger than that — like Jeff Bezos' 127-meter megayacht Koru — it takes many, many billions.

Money can't buy you everything

The world's biggest, most expensive yachts are custom-built by shipyards that produce only a handful of boats a year.

But no matter how many tens of millions of dollars clients are spending, there are things to which builders will refuse to say yes.

"In the end, the boat has our name," an executive from one of the world's biggest shipyards told BI.

They recalled a client who requested a yellow hull to match his Lamborghini . The shipyard declined, steering the client in another direction.

"If I don't like it, I don't build it. I finalize two or three contracts a year," another builder said. "If somebody can say your vessel is ugly, my reputation is bad."

Yacht crews are trained to make the impossible possible. A guest requests fresh caviar flown into the middle of the Caribbean? No problem. Fresh flowers every day while at sea? It'll cost you, but it can be done.

But they can't time travel, and captains and crew members say the thing that causes the most friction is when a client or owner wants to go from point A to point B — right now.

"The hardest request is when they want the boat in a place — yesterday," one captain said.

The best person to know? A friend with a superyacht

Superyachts are expensive to build and expensive to maintain . According to the industry standard, owning a superyacht will cost 10% of its new-build price annually. For a $100 million yacht, that's at least $10 million yearly going to crew, regular maintenance, insurance, fuel, and dockage.

Chartering, too, is costly . Beyond the list price, which can be hundreds of thousands a week, guests must pay for provisions, which are pegged at 35% of the charter fee, and are expected to tip between 10% and 20%.

So the most important unspoken rule of superyachting is actually that the only thing better than owning a superyacht is knowing someone else who does — and invites you along, of course.

Watch: Why it costs $1 million a day to run one of the world's biggest cruise ships

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